Caring Matters- Ripples

Every Year over 2 million people die from AIDS

There are over 246 million people with diabetes in the world today

Over 3.5 children die from malnutrition annually

Approximately 1 million people commits suicide each year. Every 40 seconds someone commits suicide.

With these sorts of statistics there is room for those who care. Not persons who want to run away but persons who are genuinely concern about the welfare of another human being. God is looking for such people to help his church grow, to make a difference in this world. One touch can create a ripple that can touch thousands of lives. All you have to do is start that ripple, you may not see how the ripple grows but it will.

Kirk was strolling intently along the Corridor of his University with a pile of books that reminded one of the Tower of Babel. His eyes stared through the coke bottle glasses directly at some point ahead of him as his feet lumbered on taking him to his destination. He neither looked left nor right. Suddenly as he passed a group of guys liming in the corridor a foot shot out and poor Kirk and his Babylonian pile were scattered on the floor.

He stumbled hurriedly to pick up the books, not looking up at the boys who were laughing. His mind had learnt the art of drowning out such laughter. All he wanted to do was to gather his books and be away from there as soon as possible.

As he was reloading his hands, he realized that a young man had come to his assistance. He smiled shyly at this welcomed intervention but said not a word. He renewed his load and set out on his way again.

The next day Kirk was once more seen walking through the college with his huge burden. All it generated was a smile. After all Kirk was as weird as they come. He went to his locker and placed the books one by into their storage area.

Three years passed and Kirk was ready to graduate. He was voted alpha mater and was asked to speak on the behalf of the graduands.

Kirk spoke eloquently but of all the things he said one stood out. He said one day he was going home to commit suicide when a group of boys tripped him and caused his books to fall. While he was picking up his books young came to his assistance and this was when he recognized that there was still some good people in this world.

The next day he brought back his books to the school.

The young man had done a good deed and left. In his mind the story was over but in truth and in fact it was not. The story is never really over. The ripples of a good deed spreads further than the doer could ever imagine. What type of ripples are you making?

Over six thousand years ago one man made a fatal mistake and passed a death sentence on a whole planet. The ripples of his action are still being felt even today. Fortunately, there are being counteracted by the ripples produce by another man who came on the scene about 4000 years after. A man called Christ Jesus.

I am not only amazed by the man but by the way he caused people to behave and the stories of people lives which come to the fore because of him.

One of the stories I am particularly intrigue by is the story of the paralysed man. Let Us turn to Luke 5: 17-23

¶And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?

Luke 5:17 - 23 (KJV)

Here it is that Jesus is teaching, and people were gathered around him for various reasons from every town of Galilee, Judaea and even Jerusalem. There were some looking to see a miracle performed, some had come to be healed and men like the Pharisees and doctors had come to set their wits against his and to trap him in some way to discredit him. All of these people in one place. Yet Jesus did not ostracize any, he welcomed them all.